I am Professor of Design and Creative Practice in Health and work across Social Science and the Arts and Health, Wellbeing and Life Sciences at the University. My research focuses on the role of design in promoting quality of life and wellbeing, particularly in the context of people experiencing major life transitions. I am particularly interested in the role of the arts and creative practice in offering individuals living with dementia and their families an outlet for self-expression and a valued meaningful activity. I have written a number of books in this context including Meaningful Making: Journeying through Dementia, Exploring the Self through Photography and Creativity and Communication. I currently teach on the occupational therapy programme two days a week.

I am a Professor of Design and Creative Practice and Health and a qualified occupational therapist.

My research focuses on the role of design and creative practice in promoting wellbeing and quality of life. Within all aspects of my work I continue to be particularly inspired by older people and by people living with dementia and the remarkable stories they tell about their lives and much of my research focuses in this area.

I utilise design methods including artefacts, photography and art to build understanding of the experiences of individuals and then develop creative responses to these. These responses have manifested themselves in films, commercially available products and nationally commissioned interventions and have informed government guidelines (NICE 2008 and 2015, Alzheimer Scotland, 2018 and 2020). I am author of 8 books and have written widely about the value of creative practice and design and health.

My research with older people has led to global collaborations with older people, colleagues in design and in healthcare. Current collaborations include Australia and New Zealand, Switzerland and the Netherlands.

I am a National Teaching Fellow and was awarded a Fellowship from the College of Occupational Therapists in 2012, in recognition of my contribution to the profession. I have also been awarded the Higher Education Academy Health Science and Practice Award and currently hold three Inspirational Teaching Awards and the Vice Chancellor's Award for learning and teaching.

I am co-founder and editor of the Design for Health Journal and co-founder and co-convener of the bi-annual Design4Health Conference.

I am external examiner at Dundee University and Visiting Professor at Northumbria University and Bradford University.

Quality of life and well-being for older people, creativity and communication for people with dementia, visual methods in research, visual methods in research, critical artefacts.